Abstract

Motley is the corporation name of Sophia and Margaret Harris (sisters) and their friend Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot, who designed sets and costumes from 1932 to 1976 for plays by Shakespeare and modern classics, opera, ballet, and motion pictures. Their designs were used in productions in the West End of London, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the English National Opera, and in the United States on Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Motley Collection contains costume plates, scene design renderings, production plans and notes of the celebrated British theater design team, "Motley." The Motley collection spans 50 years of theater history, including 3000 original costume sketches, story boards and fabric samples from over 160 productions.

Biographical Note

Motley is the corporation name of Sophia and Margaret Harris (sisters) and their friend Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot, who designed sets and costumes from 1932 to 1976 for plays by Shakespeare and modern classics, opera, ballet, and motion pictures. Their designs were used in productions in the West End of London, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the English National Opera, and in the United States on Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Administrative Information

Repository:
Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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